3 Tips for Passing Cyclists Safely
Did you know that cyclists may use THE FULL LANE in North Carolina?
I know the feeling…you’re driving along when you approach a cyclist (or a group or riders). It seems terribly inconvenient, doesn’t it? The reality is that cyclists have the right to use the full lane in NC. And the amount of time for a driver to slow down and pass is generally only a matter of seconds. How much time is worth it to save lives?
On May 14th (Mother’s Day), one of our athletes was struck by a car on Pea Ridge Rd. The accident is the most common type of “overtaking crash.” Drivers are often distracted (this person was on the phone) and trying to pass in the same lane. The results can be tragic.
Follow our 3 tips for passing cyclists safely
1) Slow down
As a driver, it’s your responsibility to avoid hitting people, cars or other objects in front of you.
2) Look and wait for other traffic.
The most common type of car-overtaking-bike collisions is when cars try to squeeze past a cyclist. Wait for a safe place to pass. The majority of time, the wait is minimal. In fact, it’s generally a couple of seconds. At most, it’s the time you’d spend at a traffic light.
3) Change lanes to pass.
Give the cyclist(s) a safe buffer by moving into the next lane, providing at least FOUR FEET between you and the cyclist(s). Even with a solid line, it’s ok to pass so long as there’s no oncoming traffic and you can see in front of you. If you misjudge it, just hit the brakes (not the gas) and wait for a safe time to pass again.
“Is a life worth the extra few seconds it will take me to pass?”
Read more on the BikeWalk NC site here. Thanks to Steve Goodridge for his support and input.
#ShareTheRoad
#GiveFourFeet
#SaveALife
